6 May 2025  New Graffiti on Donaukanal Sends a Clear MessageA new 12-meter-wide and 5-meter-high graffiti has appeared on a wall along Vienna's Donaukanal near the popular Hafenkneipe, a casual open-air bar known for its lounge chairs, canal views, and direct line of sight to the Urania observatory. In this lively and often photographed spot, the fresh mural catches the attention of passersby and canal visitors. It shows a sad-eyed pig beside a bold statement: "Nein zum Vollspaltenboden!" (No to fully slatted flooring) and includes the URL vgt.at/Schweine.Created by an anonymous artist, the mural was commissioned by the animal rights organization VGT – Verein gegen Tierfabriken. Unlike the striking 2023 mural that urged for stronger animal protection laws, this year's artwork focuses directly on a legislative issue that is nearing decision. While the artist remains unnamed, the focus is on the powerful visual call to action and the campaign's core message: speak up now. A Deadline in Law, a Demand from SocietyThe graffiti coincides with crucial upcoming legislative steps: on 9 May, the Austrian Health Committee is set to approve a new law. This follows a ruling by the Constitutional Court, which declared the current rules on fully slatted floors invalid as of 1 June 2025, except for the general ban on unstructured flooring. The concern is that the revised law may still allow "structured" fully slatted floors as a new minimum standard—despite this system offering only minimal improvement.Citizens can now show symbolic support by adding their names at vgt.at/Schweine. Though this public signing has no legal weight, VGT emphasizes that widespread participation can exert real political pressure. In a democratic society, visible public will matters. This initiative is backed by strong numbers. According to Eurobarometer survey data, 92% of Austria's population support the protection of the welfare of farmed animals in terms of an environment adapted to their needs, including straw bedding—something that current industrial systems often do not provide. Yet, the planned law may again fail to fulfill these expectations. Looking to the Stars, Calling for Higher StandardsMuch like the Urania, which offers a view into distant galaxies, VGT is a forward-looking organization with high aspirations for life on Earth—particularly the lives of animals. Through the public murals, the group bridges urban culture and political activism, continuing a tradition of using Vienna's public spaces as canvases for justice.In Austria, it has become a good fashion—a respected practice—to raise awareness through art and influence politics through visual protest. Whether it's fox hunting, cattle housing, or now pig welfare, murals are becoming more than decoration. They are social commentary and a call to action. While lawmakers may legally delay meaningful change, the demands of the public—clearly expressed through surveys and visual campaigns—remain urgent. Democracy is not only written into the constitution but also sprayed onto the walls of the city. And in this case, it's written in bold letters beside a pig that asks for nothing more than a life on straw. Image: The 12-meter-wide and 5-meter-high graffiti on a wall along Vienna’s Donaukanal near the Franzensbrücke shows a realistically painted pig with a somber expression. Next to the animal, large block letters state 'Nein zum Vollspaltenboden!' (No to fully slatted flooring). The campaign URL vgt.at/Schweine is also clearly visible. The artwork stands out against the concrete backdrop of the canal, with greenery and the urban landscape in the background. Photo: © VGT.at. |